Sudan ACD Guide — Documents

Overview

The ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration) is Sudan's mandatory pre-loading customs requirement for every sea shipment discharging at Port Sudan. Announced by the Sudan Customs Authority and effective from 1 January 2026, the ACD applies to all cargo types — general cargo, machinery, spare parts and vehicles — regardless of country of origin. The ACD number must be obtained by the shipper, exporter or freight forwarder before the cargo is loaded, and then referenced on the final Bill of Lading. Shipments loaded without a valid ACD reference face amendment refusals from carriers, customs clearance delays and demurrage at Port Sudan.

Discharge ports

Port Sudan

Required documents

Bill of Lading

Draft or final; weights, seals and discharge port must match the cargo.

Commercial Invoice

HS codes and declared values as shipped.

Certificate of Origin

Confirms the country of manufacture.

Packing List

Freight Invoice

Official ACD Document Sample

Verify the layout, stamps, and ACD customs format of a validated Sudan loading certificate:

Sample Draft

Application process

1
The shipper, exporter or freight forwarder applies for the ACD number before the cargo is loaded at origin.
2
Prepare the freighted (rated) draft Bill of Lading and the Commercial Invoice for validation.
3
Our compliance desk cross-checks the shipper, consignee, cargo description and declared values, then issues the ACD number.
4
Provide the ACD reference to your carrier so it is annotated on the final Bill of Lading.
5
File early — because enforcement is at loading, a missing ACD can stop the cargo from being shipped, not just delayed at destination.

Timeline

Step	Duration
Submit documents	Your action
Draft & invoice	1 hour on average
Approve draft	Your action
Payment	Your action
Final validation	1 to 24 hours

Special rules & HS codes

Enforced at loading, not just on arrival

Since 1 January 2026 the Sudan ACD is checked at the load port. A missing ACD can stop the cargo from being shipped at all — not merely delayed at destination — so the number must be obtained before loading and referenced on the final Bill of Lading.

Official sources

Official Sudan ACD sources

The Sudan ACD is issued on the official ACD Sudan platform for the Sudan Customs Authority. Support: info@acdsudan.com, operations@acdsudan.com.

accessed 15 October 2026

Top 3 causes of Sudan ACD rejection

Missing Certificate of Origin or incorrect chamber of commerce stamp.
ACD number not declared on the vessel manifest.
Blurred or illegible scans of loading documents.

Specific questions: Sudan

Does the Sudan ACD cover land shipments by truck and transit cargo?

Yes. The official ACD Sudan tariff has separate lines for land freight by truck and for cargo transiting Sudanese territory by sea or by truck, so trucks and transit cargo need an ACD as well as cargo discharged at Port Sudan.

How do I get the ACD for Sudan?

On the official ACD Sudan platform, acdsudan.com, at the port of loading: the shipper, exporter or freight forwarder uploads the Bill of Lading (a draft is accepted), commercial invoice, freight invoice, certificate of origin and packing list. The issued ACD number must be shown on the final Bill of Lading. We can prepare and file it for you.

How much does the Sudan ACD cost?

Under the official tariff updated in May 2026: USD 150 per container, USD 150 per LCL shipment, USD 100 per vehicle or RoRo unit, and USD 0.80 per ton (minimum USD 600) for bulk; transit cargo has lower rates. Our service fee is separate.

Is the Sudan ACD needed for transit cargo?

Yes. The ACD is mandatory for every shipment unloaded in Sudan regardless of its final destination; the official tariff lists separate transit rates.

Must the ACD number be on the Bill of Lading?

Yes. Including the ACD reference number on the Bill of Lading is mandatory for all shipments to Sudan; carriers such as Maersk ask for it in the cargo description field.

What is needed to open an ACD Sudan account?

The official site asks applicants to upload only their business licence when registering; uploading other documents gets the account rejected and the registration has to start again.

Latest updates: Sudan

24 February 2026
New Mandatory ACD Requirement for All Sudan Shipments – Effective 1 January 2026
Sudan's Customs Authority mandates Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) system implementation for all shipments beginning January 1, 2026.
24 February 2026
Update on Sudan ACD Document Requirements
Sudan Customs Authority has added Certificate of Origin to required ACD documentation, with mandatory compliance effective January 1, 2026.
24 February 2026
Update on Sudan ACD Document Requirements – Packing List Added
Sudan's Advance Cargo Declaration now mandates a packing list alongside existing documentation, effective January 1, 2026, for all Sudan-bound shipments.

Frequently asked questions

The ACD (Advance Cargo Declaration) is a mandatory Sudan Customs requirement, effective 1 January 2026, that must be obtained before cargo is loaded for any shipment arriving at Port Sudan.

The core documents are the freighted (rated) draft Bill of Lading and the Commercial Invoice. Our desk confirms any additional details required for your specific cargo.

Before the cargo is loaded at the port of origin. The ACD reference then has to appear on the final Bill of Lading.

Yes. The Sudan ACD applies to all cargo types shipped to Sudan, including passenger vehicles, general cargo, machinery and spare parts, from any origin.

Carriers may refuse Bill of Lading amendments and Sudan Customs can hold the cargo, leading to clearance delays and demurrage charges at Port Sudan until a valid ACD is provided.

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Sudan ACD Certificate — The Complete Guide